Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (1974/Network U.K./British TV Mini-Series/Region
Two/2/PAL DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras:
D Episodes: B-
PLEASE NOTE: This DVD set can only be
operated on machines capable of playing back DVDs that can handle Region Two/2/PAL
format software and can be ordered from our friends at Network U.K. at the
website address provided at the end of the review or at finer retailers.
In another gem from the last Golden Age of British TV, Lee
Remick shines as Jennie Jerome, the American woman who eventually becomes Lady
Randolph Churchill in the hit TV Mini-Series Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill.
On its 35th Anniversary, Network U.K. has issued all seven
hours on two DVDs, all written by Julian Mitchell and directed by James Cellan
Jones.
Of course, the greatest irony is seeing Warren Clarke of A Clockwork Orange (1971) playing
Winston Churchill, but he is good and the show takes its time very convincingly
unwinding the tale of the drama and historical events at the same time. It is a story of isolated elite lives, as
well as public ones and is so good that you feel like you are looking into
events you should not be. Jeremy
Brett, Barbara Parkins, Christopher Cazenove and Patrick Troughton also star.
The 1.33
X 1 image is on the soft side, with aliasing errors throughout, though color is
consistent. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
better, but shows its age just the same, though many will find André Previn’s
score on some shows a pleasant surprise.
Tom McCall scores the rest. There
are no extras.
As noted above, you can order this PAL DVD import
exclusively from Network U.K. at:
http://www.networkdvd.net/
or
www.networkdvd.co.uk
- Nicholas Sheffo
